With an exhortation to keep their
passion alive fresh on their minds, 65 members of the
MU College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2008 took
the Veterinarian’s Oath and became the newest
members of the profession on May 16. Students’
friends, family and mentors gathered in Jesse Hall on
the MU campus to witness the CVM’s 59th annual
commencement.

After Dr. Jimi Cook, president of
the MU CVM Alumni Association, offered greetings to
the graduating students, CVM alumnus Dr. Gary A. Vroegindewey,
a colonel in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, presented
the commencement address. Vroegindewey talked about
his decision to leave his practice and join the Veterinary
Corps in order to reignite his passion for veterinary
medicine. He advised the class that while some of them
would find that the passion for helping animals and
others that had carried them so far would sustain them
throughout their careers, in future years others would
find themselves at a crossroads wondering what else
they could do with their degrees.

“I want you to imagine where
you could be, what you could do and be prepared to follow
your passion,” he said.

He also counseled his newest colleagues
to take their work, but not themselves seriously, and
asked them to make their graduation day memorable by
picking up the telephone and calling someone who had
influenced them to thank them for encouragement, guidance
and support.

Dr. Steve Strubberg, president of
the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, led the
graduates in reciting the Veterinarian’s Oath,
after which Dr. Ron Cott, associate dean for Student
and Alumni Affairs and director of Development, presented
the graduating class. Dr. Timothy J. Evans, assistant
professor, Cook, and Dr. John Dodam, associate dean
for academic affairs, conducted the investiture. Bo
Fraser, vice chairman of the MU Board of Curators, conferred
the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree to the class
members. Veterinarians completing internships, residencies
and graduate programs at the CVM also received recognition
during the ceremony.

The Class of 2008 selected Dr. Gerald
Ryan Bader to offer their response.

Dr. Neil C. Olson, CVM dean,
who served as the master of ceremonies, congratulated
the class members on their achievement. “…
accept your degree with pride and as a symbol of your
achievement. It is a treasure that cannot be lost, borrowed,
or stolen. It will afford you respect and establish
you as an authority figure in animal health. It will
open doors to a wide variety of professional opportunities
to serve mankind through ministering to the needs of
billions of animals on this planet.”

Dr. Neil Olson, College of
Veterinary Medicine dean, served as master of
ceremonies for the college’s 59th Commencement.

Commencement speaker Dr. Gary
Vroegindewey, colonel in the United States Veterinary
Corps, advised the CVM Class of 2008 to measure
their success not by what they do, but by who
they are.

Under the direction of Missouri
Veterinary Medical Association President Dr. Steve
Strubberg, the CVM Class of 2008 takes the Veterinarian’s
Oath.